Wolfe von Lenkiewicz’s work involves the appropriation of recognisable iconographic images which are then reconfigured and added to through the medium of drawing. The new reconfigurations occupy a space between the recognisable and the new; the historical and the contemporary. The drawings which are monumental, occupy an interesting space between the tome of art historical knowledge, the lexicon of visual language, and the sophisitcated intelligence of the viewer. The observer may trace the point of appropriation, the intervention into it, and the new image created as a result. A second and perhaps more germane point of recognition for the viewer is von Lenkiewicz’s use of the traditional medium of drawing which spans the entire history of Western Art from the cave paintings at Lascaux. von Lenkiewicz’s mastery as draughtsman is perhaps the strongest link to the history he both appropriates and participates in, and thereby adds to..

von Lenkiewicz’s subject matter is varied, diverse and at times risqué. He boldly experiments with hybrid visual combinations that straddle the murky borders between the sacred and the profane; image and aspect. An interesting feature of his working process is the manner in which he moves freely between the public and private to the public once again. In his ouvre von Lenkiewicz unapologetically engages the works of Picasso, Balthus, Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, Lewis Carroll. A curious reference to the work of Walt Disney is linked historically to the artist personally through his great grandfather, court painter Ludvig II of Bavaria 1845-1886 whose custom built castle Neuschwanstein was built as a homage to the composer Richard Wagner and which became the inspiration for Disneyland. In tandem with the appropriation of recognised images is the further appropriation of artistic style which can only be understood in terms of a testament to the skill of the artist. Wandering through the space it is possible to identify influences of Op Art, Analytical Cubism, allegory. Finally, throughout the diversity of subject, style and rendering, is a consistent thread or rather consciousness that is acknowledged through the work itself – that the job of the artist is first and foremost to make an image. In this respect, the images produced by Wolfe von Lenkiewicz are in the opinion of this writer a feast for the art going public of Dublin.

Wolfe von Lenkiewicz presently works in Berlin. He has exhibited extensively throughout Europe in venues such as; Maison Rouge, The Kuntshaus, Hamburg, and the Palais de L’iles.

Established in January 2008, The Sebastian Guinness Gallery is dedicated to bringing international art and artists to Ireland. Sebastian Guinness has been involved with international art exhibitions for the past 25 years in Germany, the United States and Ireland. He has represented amongst others, artists James Turrell, Helen Chadwick, Kenny Scharf and George Condo.